Synthesis,characterization, and crystallization of thermoplastic aromatic semi‐crystalline poly(ester‐imide)s based on bis(trimellitic acid anhydride) phenyl ester

A high molecular weight aromatic homopoly(ester‐imide) (homoPEI) was synthesized from homopoly(ester‐amic acids) (homoPEAA), which was obtained from the reaction of bis(trimellitic acid anhydride) phenyl ester (BTAH) with 4‐4'‐oxydianiline ether (ODA). This homoPEI was melt‐processable semi‐crystalline polymer and displayed dual endothermic transitions which were attributed to the different levels of crystal perfection and size in the crystal structures. Four high molecular weight aromatic copoly(ester‐imide)s (coPEIs) were synthesized via copoly(ester‐amic acids)s (coPEAA) from the reaction of 4, 4'‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and BTAH with ODA. The molar percentage of BTAH varied from 10 to 40%. When the molar percentages of BTAH were 30 and 40%, the resulting two coPEIs were crystallinable and their melting temperatures were 361°C and 356/371°C, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) results indicated that the crystal structures included short segments of BTAH/ODA and ODPA/ODA. The initial crystallization of the two coPEIs took place during imidization process. Thermogravimetric (TA) and mechanical analysis confirmed that both homoPEI and coPEIs showed almost no weight loss until 400°C in N₂ and good mechanical properties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.